ES2256247T3 - METHOD AND MANUFACTURE OF SEALED MONOLITIC PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL SYSTEMS AND A SEALED MONOLITIC PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL SYSTEM. - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for manufacturing sealed monolithic electrochemical systems (1), which method comprises the following method steps: application of electrolyte to a pattern of a porous structure located on a substrate (3), which structure constitutes a monolithic electrochemical electrode and comprises a photoelectrode (6), an insulating layer (7) and a counterelectrode (8) application of a sealing material (10) surrounding said porous structure to form a laminate comprising a front plane consisting of said substrate (3) and the porous structure and a rear plane consisting of the sealing material (10). <IMAGE>

Description

Method and manufacturing of systems sealed monolithic photoelectrochemicals and a system sealed monolithic photoelectrochemical.

Technical field

The present invention relates to a method for manufacture sealed monolithic photoelectrochemical systems of according to the preamble of claim 1 of the patent, and in particular to a method for manufacturing photoelectrochemical systems monolithic comprising a substrate, a pattern, located on that substrate, of a porous structure comprising a photo electrode, an insulating layer and a counter electrode, in which the porous structure is filled with electrolyte before the structure pattern Porous encapsulates between the substrate and the rear plane formed by sealing material.

The present invention also relates to a sealed monolithic photoelectrochemical system in accordance with the preamble of claim 16 of the patent.

Prior art

Previously, as of WO 97/16838, a method for manufacturing photoelectrochemical cells was known monolithic In this method photoelectrochemical cells are formed by means of conductive material patterns that are applied on a transparent electrically isolated material. Then it provides a porous structure by successively applying a layer of porous semiconductor, a layer of porous insulator and a layer of porous conductor After the application of the porous structure provides a liquid electrolyte to it. Porous structure It is also covered with an insulating cover layer.

However, it has been proven that in the sealing from the monolithic photoelectrochemical systems a number of problems. On the other hand, it has been found that the cells are sensitive to moisture and impurities, because the presence of moisture and impurities has a considerable effect on the Long-term system stability. Moreover, it is important that the sealing along the outer edge of the cells effectively prevent the leakage or dissipation of, on the one hand, electrolyte from inside the cells and, on the other, impurities and moisture from outside to inside of the cells.

Several methods have been tried to seal monolithic photoelectrochemical systems, in which it is placed electrolyte to seal, such as bonding or joining two rollers holding them together by pressing. None of the methods that have been tested previously has resulted in systems Photoelectrochemicals with long-term characteristics good enough and sufficiently deficient low cell behavior during the sealing process, which has resulted in the industrial manufacturing of systems Photoelectrochemicals are more difficult.

Brief Description of the Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a method to manufacture sealed monolithic photoelectrochemical systems, in which reduces the risk of the presence of moisture and impurities in the cell after sealing, the stability of the Long-term cells and sealing has a high degree of impermeability with respect to the environment.

These objects are achieved by a method of according to the characterizing part of claim 1 of the patent. The sealing material comprises a plastic that melts and joins a frontal plane, formed by a substrate and cells located on the substrate. Due to the fact that the material sealant is heated and pressed, sealing is obtained along the edge of the pattern of the porous structure. The edge on the one hand it means the inner edge that separates the individual cells of a certain group of cells and, by another, the outer edge that separates a group of cells from the environment. Since the plastic layer is very flexible when heated, it gets a good and very tight seal, reducing the risk of that penetrate moisture and impurities and increasing the Long-term system stability. The sealing method of according to the invention also reduces the risk that the Cell yield is reduced during the process of manufacturing.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the monolithic photoelectrochemical system is subjected to overpressure, allowing the evacuation of moisture and gases from the structure porous This gives rise to the possibility of obtaining one more product clean and therefore more stable in the long term.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the front and rear plane are pressed together by a flexible pressing device. Pressing the frontal plane and the back plane together with a flexible pressing device, it provides a good seal along the edge of the pattern of cells applied. Good sealing is provided both along the inner border between individual cells as well as the outer edge surrounding the cells. The sealing between the cells, this is the internal edge, leads to a reduction in the risk of leakage between the cells, and the seal around the cell pattern, this is the outer edge reduces the risk of dirt and moisture coming from outside penetrate inside the cells.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sealed monolithic photoelectrochemical system comprising a effective protective barrier against the entry of moisture and impurities in the cells coming from the environment, in which the risk of degradation of cell function during encapsulated, and it is possible that cells have characteristics of Long-term stability good enough. These objects are achieved through a sealed monolithic photoelectrochemical system of according to the characterizing part of claim 16 of the patent. By means of a sealing material comprising at least a first layer formed by a plastic film, is provided a junction between the frontal plane and the rear plane of the system photoelectrochemical, which reduces the risk of moisture penetrating in the cells and also reduces the risk of the electrolyte flow out of the cell and come into contact with the adjacent cell. Since the plastic layer is very flexible in hot state, you get a good and very tight seal, it reduces the risk of moisture penetrating and thus Increases the stability of the system in the long term.

In a preferred embodiment, the material sealant comprises at least a second layer, which constitutes a barrier layer and possesses appropriate properties to avoid moisture and dirt penetration inside the cell from the environment. This type of sealing material is especially appropriate, because the risk of defect of Long-term system stability.

Description of the figures

The invention is described below with reference to the figures of the attached drawings, in which

Fig. 1 shows a cross section of a sealed monolithic photoelectrochemical system comprising a number of cells,

Fig. 2 shows another embodiment of a system monolithic photoelectrochemical, in which the serial connection between the number of cells is carried out by alternating interconnection of terminal walls,

Fig. 3 shows a group of applied cells to the substrate,

Fig. 4 shows a flow chart of the sealing process of the monolithic photoelectrochemical system,

Fig. 4A shows a flow chart of a group of processes by parts in the sealing processes shown in Figure 4,

Fig. 5 shows the pressing of a system photoelectrochemical by means of a flexible diagram,

Fig. 6 shows a pressing head soft,

Fig. 7 shows a two-chamber system for subject a photoelectrochemical system to pressing,

Fig. 8 shows a photoelectrochemical system with a two part sealant material, and

Fig. 9 shows a photoelectrochemical system with the external areas pressed strongly with each other.

Ways of carrying out the invention

In Figure 1, a cross section is shown of a sealed monolithic photoelectrochemical system comprising a number of cells 2A, 2B, 2C. Each cell 2A, 2B, 2C constitutes a porous structure and comprises a photoelectrode 6, a layer insulator 7 and a counter electrode 8. Cells 2A, 2B, 2C or Porous structures are applied on the substrate in a pattern. He pattern is surrounded by an edge consisting of an internal edge that separates individual cells from each other and an outer edge surrounding a group of cells that constitutes said pattern. He WO 97/16838 describes an example of such a system, whose Description is incorporated herein entirely.

The monolithic photoelectrochemical system 1 comprises photo electrodes in the form of photoelectrodes 6 nanoporous ones built on the substrate. The substrate comprises a layer 3 of material support completely or partially transparent and also a thin conductive layer 4 that is applied to the support layer 3. The support layer 3 can be made of glass or of plastic, in which case the photoelectric system can be designed flexibly in a way. Each photoelectrode 6 is placed on The conductive thin layer. The conductive layer is divided into a pattern of 5 dividing fine lines in which the conductive layer is removed, then forming a group of isolated cells mutually. Preferably, the pattern consists of a group of elongated rectangles, but can of course be designed from arbitrary manner, although preferably it is a pattern to cover the surface. Figure 2 shows an example of an appropriate pattern, and the photoelectrochemical system 2 seen from above is observed.

According to the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the pattern of the porous structure as a group of 2A-2D rectangular cells. The cells are placed long edge with long edge. In this case, the edge external is formed by a rectangle 40 that surrounds the group of cells and the inner edge is formed by a group of lines 41 parallel that separate cells from each other. A group of cells is connected in series in a known way, for example as It is indicated below. Other patterns are also raised for cover the surface, for example, a group of hexagons. Do not However, the preferred embodiment with rectangles allows the Simple serial connection between cells. In order to perform a serial connection between cells in a simple way, they are arranged the cell layers in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, where cells are interconnected edge to edge as follows: photoelectrode 6 extends to an edge of the conductive layer 4 of cells, while the other edge is left free. The dividing lines 5 are designed with a width such that there is no risk of the photoelectrode coming into contact with the adjacent cell.

The photoelectrode 6 is covered by a layer porous of an insulator 7, which extends over an edge of the layer conductive and isolates the photoelectrode 6 from the porous counter electrode 8 which is located in insulator 7. Preferably, the insulator 7 may also constitute a diffuse reflector that reflects the light that has passed through photoelectrode 6 without being absorbed in it, increasing the degree of absorption of the system.

In a preferred embodiment, the counter electrode 8 is applied in such a way that it essentially covers the insulator 7 and is extends to the layer on an adjacent cell not covered by the insulator 7. In this way, the connected cells are created in series, contacting 11, providing 12 only for the first and the last in a group of cells interconnected

The counter electrodes 8 of the respective cells are separated by an interspace 9. It is important that cells are isolated from each other so that the electrolyte cannot out of electrodes or insulator and come into contact with the electrodes of the different cells. In order to guarantee that this does not happen, the interspace can be filled with a isolating material. In a preferred embodiment, the material insulator is formed by parts of sealing material 10 that subject to pressing inside the interspace 9.

Before the photoelectrochemical system 1 is sealed, photoelectrode 6 absorbs an active substance, by example a dye that absorbs light. In addition, the electrolyte to the porous structure formed by photoelectrode 6, insulator 7 and counter electrode 8. In a preferred embodiment, the electrolyte is supplied by means of a printing process, of proper way screen printing. Using this method, the correct amount of electrolyte can be supplied, so that the porous structure of each cell is filled but without arriving to exceed the filling capacity. If too much is supplied electrolyte, there is a risk that the electrolyte will travel to the inside of interspace 9 between cells, leading to a risk of short circuit between cells. In another embodiment, the electrolyte is supplied letting the porous structure adsorbs the electrolyte during the supply process.

In another embodiment, shown in Figure 3, the serial connection between a number of cells 2A, 2B and 2C is carried out through the terminal walls of the cells that They are connected as described below. In this embodiment, the cells are in a pattern in which each cell is rectangular and has two long sides and two terminal walls. The cells are formed on a substrate with a layer 4 of material driver. The cells are isolated from each other by channels 5 of the conductive material that has been recorded. Each cell comprises an anode 6 of porous material, and in the present case this anode is formed by a light sensitive photoelectrode. A insulator 7 of porous material to the anode 6. A counter electrode 8 of porous material to said insulator 7. In order of carrying out the serial connection between the cells, these are connect in such a way that the anode of a cell connects to the counter electrode of the next cell. In the embodiment that shown in Figure 2, this is done through channels Engravings 5 that are designed following a pattern of zigzag, which produces an L-shaped pattern of the conductive surfaces consisting of a group of Ls, which have a rear part 13 and a foot 14, facing each other with respect to the other so that the protuberance of an L tends to be located directly adjacent to the next L. The photoelectrode 6 is located entirely within the part rear, that is the elongated part, of an area shaped like L. insulator 7 is positioned so that it covers the photoelectrode and extends slightly over foot 14 of the area L-shaped of an adjacent cell, that is insulator 7 acts as a bridge on the recorded channel 5 within an area corresponding to the width of the cell. The serial connection is carried out by the counter electrode 8 of a cell to which it is allowed to extend into conductive layer 4 of a adjacent cell. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, this is carried out by means of the counter electrode 8 that extends within foot 14 of an L-shaped area of a cell adjacent. Figure 3 also shows an encapsulating material 10A and a covering layer 10B that together constitute a material sealant 10. In a preferred embodiment, the encapsulating material 10 is formed by an adhesion layer 19A, and a layer of covering 10B which is formed by an adhesion layer 19B and a barrier layer 19C.

After the electrolyte has been supplied to the porous structure, the photoelectrochemical system 1  It is sealed by means of a sealing material 10 according to the invention, using a method described below with respect to to Figure 4.

In a first stage 20 of the method, a sealing material 12 to the substrate 3 in such a way that it covers completely 2A-2C cells and their structure porous, to form a sealed monolithic photoelectric system that it comprises a frontal plane formed by said substrate and the porous structure, and a rear plane formed by the material sealant The sealing material comprises at least one layer of plastic, preferably a thermoplastic such as, for example, polyethylene methacrylic acid, which after heating, it is intended to adhere to the underlying substrate and, if appropriate, to the porous structure located on the substratum. In a preferred embodiment, the sealing material is formed by a laminated material, with a plastic layer of adhesion and a barrier layer with low or no permeability against to liquids and air, for example a sheet of aluminum foil. In Another preferred embodiment, the sealant material comprises a part a layer of adhesion plastic that is intended, like before, that it joins the substrate, and on the other a laminated material formed by a layer of plastic and a layer of laminated material in which is intended for the plastic material to adhere to said layer of adhesion. The plastic layer is attached to the aluminum layer of way known to those skilled in the art, for example by gluing. Using an intermediate layer, you get a Good bonding as the more flexible adhesion layer takes the form of the support more effectively than the aluminum layer less flexible.

In order to ensure that you get a adequate tightness against liquid ingress through the edge of the adhesion layer, the adhesion layer, in a preferred embodiment, is designed with a thickness of less than 50 um and, in a more preferred embodiment, with a thickness of less of 30 µm. With such thicknesses, a layer is obtained that is fine enough that the edge of intense flow does not exert a negative impact on the long-term stability of the cells enclosed, at the same time that the thickness is what Large enough to be easy to handle.

In a second stage 21 of the method, the material sealant is pressed together with the substrate and with the cells located on the substrate. The sealing is carried out by a frontal plane formed by said substrate and the porous structure and a rear plane formed by the material sealant that is being pressed while heats, resulting in the melting of the adhesion layer together with the frontal plane, and resulting in sealing along the edge of the Pattern. The seal isolates the individual cells from each other to along the inner edge of the pattern and, thus, prevents electrolyte leakage between the cells and also isolates the group of cells whose pattern constitutes the surrounding environment at the edge outside of the pattern and, thus, prevents the occurrence of dirt or moisture entering the cells. Then it indicate alternative preferred embodiments of the pressing.

In addition, Figure 4A shows symbolically certain processes by preferred parts during sealing 21. In a first process by parts 22, a layer of adhesion plastic in front of the frontal plane, and on it a laminated material formed by an adhesion layer, preferably of plastic, and a barrier layer, preferably of aluminum. In the case in which the use is formed by a layer of plastic and an aluminum layer, the plastic layer is attached to the layer of aluminum well known to the person skilled in the technique, for example by gluing. Using a layer intermediate, a good bond is achieved since the adhesion layer more flexible adopts the support form more effectively than the least flexible aluminum layer. Figure 8 shows the plan front 19, the adhesion layer 19A and the barrier layer of the layer of adhesion 19B and the barrier layer 19C. Adhesion layer 19B It has the function of joining the barrier layer 19C and the layer of accession 19A. Preferably, the adhesion layer is formed by a thermoplastic

In a second process by parts 23, the plane front and sealing material are subjected to overpressure, which makes it possible to reduce the presence of dirt and moisture in the inside the cells.

In a third process by parts 24, the plane front and the sealing material are subjected to pressing by means of a flexible pressing device, resulting in a good seal around both internal and external edges.

In order to achieve an even better seal around the outer edge, said edge can even be pressed more, with a strong pressing device in a parts process 25, slightly outside the cells, for example a 2-5 mm from the edge of the cells. This pressing makes finer any present layer of adhesion 19A, reducing from this way the risk of dirt or moisture coming from of the environment once the union has occurred. Figure 9 shows a group of cells that are pressed by a strong pressing device to give rise to two zones 26A and 26B that essentially surround the clustering of cells 2A-2D. In an area 26C, 26D around each of contacts 11, 12, the cluster of cells is not subjected to pressed in order to prevent the aluminum layer in the layer from barrier be subjected to pressing together with the conductive layer in the substratum. In order to avoid any contouring between the conductive layer and the aluminum layer in zones 26A and 26B, which can negatively affect cell clustering, these zones are separated by recorded channels 26E and 26F, the areas in which strong pressed pressing takes place electrically of the total cell grouping.

The processes by parts indicated above can be combined individually to obtain separately preferred embodiments of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the pressing is carried out by means of a flexible pressing device. A flexible pressing device means that the pressing device is deformed enough to have access to the interspaces that exist between the cells, being the sealant material pressed against the frontal plane, so that the sealant material is pressed against the cells and descends to the inside the interspaces between cells and also surrounds the Pattern borders Figures 5, 6 and 7 show examples of Flexible pressing device embodiments.

Figure 5 shows the pressing of a system monolithic photoelectric by means of a flexible diagram 15A. He 1 photoelectrochemical system is placed on a 15B support, and It is subsequently covered by flexible diagram 15A. By way of appropriate, the flexible diagram may be rubber. Then, the photoelectrochemical system is subjected to pressing by means of the diagram 15A, and heat is applied, sealing being carried out. In a preferred embodiment, the pressing of diagram 15A is brought to out through space 16 around system 1 Photoelectrochemical that is subjected to overpressure. Overpressure reduces the presence of moisture and impurities in the cells before that the sealing takes place, thus improving the quality of the cells. The 15B bracket can also be designed as a flexible diagram

In a preferred embodiment, the pressing has place under a pressure that is obtained from diagrams flexible surrounding the flexible photoelectrochemical system. Using a flexible diagram, a pressing is obtained uniform over the entire photoelectrochemical system monolithic and a good seal in the interspaces 9 of the cells mentioned above.

In a preferred embodiment, the pressing is obtained by placing the monolithic photoelectrochemical system in the gap between two flexible diagrams and subjecting said gap to overpressure, acting the pressure of the environment on the system monolithic photoelectrochemical. This overpressure also contributes to reduce moisture and the presence of dirt in the structure porous before final sealing takes place.

Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment in which the pressing is carried out by means of a spindle pressing 17 comprising a pressing surface 18 formed by a soft material, for example rubber, that presses the material sealant giving rise to the frontal plane, so that the material sealant is pressed against the cells and descends inside of interspaces between cells and also around Pattern borders According to a preferred embodiment, this type of pressing can take place in a chamber subject to overpressure, making it possible to reduce the presence of dirt and moisture in the final finished product.

In an illustrative embodiment, the system monolithic photoelectrochemical is placed in an oven that heats the monolithic photoelectrochemical system up to approximately 100 ° C, heating from room temperature occurring in a period of approximately 30 minutes. Then the material It cools slowly.

According to an alternative method, the system Photoelectrochemical is sealed by means of the frontal plane and the sealing material, placed in a chamber that is subjected to overpressure According to a preferred embodiment, in order to allow evacuation to further reduce the presence of dirt and humidity, the frontal plane and the sealing material are separated by half a space for a period of time while they are submitted  to overpressure.

When the frontal plane and the sealing material have reached the correct temperature, the frontal plane is subjected to pressed together with the sealing material.

In one embodiment of the invention, the pressing is carried out using a two part camera as shown in Figure 7. The chamber 30 is formed by an envelope 31 and it comprises a first chamber part 34 and a second part 35 of chamber separated by a flexible diagram 32. The system Photoelectrochemical 33 to be joined is placed in one of the parts of the camera. An air pump (not seen) is connected, or it can connect to the collector in order to make evacuation possible both the first part of the camera and the second part of the camera. To do this, envelope 31 can be provided with a communication path between the first and second cameras, the communication path comprising a check valve placed so that the evacuation of the first and second camera can be carried out simultaneously, but the air does not flow from the second to the first chamber when later introduce air in order to allow flat pressing front and sealing material of the photoelectrochemical system.

The invention is not limited to embodiments described above, but can be varied within of the scope of the following patent claims. In a embodiment, it is envisaged to encapsulate a configuration along a solar cell In this case, different electrolytes are used to the configuration and for the solar cell, which are encapsulated so simultaneous. In addition, both front and rear planes can comprise  additional layers; for example, a colored layer can be placed between the adhesion layer 19A and the adhesion layer 19B, in order to give rise to a desired product appearance, or so alterative it is possible to color these or other layers that are part of the product.

Claims (17)

1. A method of manufacturing a system monolithic photoelectrochemical (1), comprising the following stages:

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application of an electrolyte to a pattern of a porous structure (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D) located on a substrate, the structure constituting at least one cell monolithic electrochemistry (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D) and comprising a photoelectrode (6), an insulating layer (7) and a counter electrode (8)

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application of a sealant material (10) surrounding said porous structure to form at least one system monolithic photoelectrochemical (1) comprising a frontal plane (19) formed by said substrate and the porous structure and the plane front (19A, 19B, 19C) are formed by sealing material (10)

characterized in that, after the application of said electrolyte, the following steps of the method are carried out
do:

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saying frontal plane (19) and the rear plane are heated and subjected to pressing, sealing occurs along the edge of the pattern of the porous structure thanks to a plastic layer that forms part of the sealing material (10) melts and joins said plane front (19).

2. The method claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the front plane (19) and the rear plane (19A, 19B, 19C) are subjected to pressing by means of a flexible pressing device (18, 32). 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, together with said heating and pressing,

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saying front plane (19) and rear plane (19A, 19B, 19C) undergo overpressure, thus allowing moisture evacuation and gases of the porous structure (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D).

4. The method of any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that said front plane (19) and rear plane (19A, 19B, 19C) are subjected to pressing by means of a flexible diagram (32). 5. The method of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said front plane (19) and rear plane (19A, 19B, 19C) are placed between the flexible diagrams (18, 32) that together form a surrounding hollow to the frontal plane (19) and to the rear plane (19A, 19B, 19C), and in which said gap is subjected to overpressure, then the pressing of the frontal plane (19) and the rear plane (19A, 19B, taking place), 19C). The method of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frontal plane (19) and the rear plane (19A, 19B, 19C) are placed in a first chamber (30), in which the frontal plane and the rear plane is subjected to overpressure, and in which the front plane and the rear plane are pressed. 7. The method of claim 6, characterized in that said front plane (19) and rear plane (19A, 19B, 19C) are separated from each other by a gap (16), while being subjected to overpressure, during a period of time before being pressed. 8. The method of claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the front plane (19) and the rear plane (19A, 19B, 19C) are placed in a two-chamber system (30, 34), in which a first (30) and a second chamber (34) are separated by a flexible diagram (32), in which at least the chamber in which the frontal plane (19) and the rear plane (19A, 19B, 19C) are placed it is subjected to overpressure, and in which the frontal plane and the rear plane are subjected to pressing by means of positive pressing in the second chamber (34), by pressing the diagram (32) against the frontal plane or against the plane rear. 9. The method of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electrolyte is applied to said pattern of the porous structure (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D) by means of a printing process. 10. The method of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electrolyte is applied to said pattern of the porous structure (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D) by means of a distribution process. 11. The method of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear plane (19A, 19B, 19C) is formed by a plastic film, and wherein said rear plane and front plane (19) are fused together the plastic film and the frontal plane. 12. The method of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the substrate comprises a support layer (3) formed of a plastic or glass material. 13. The method of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear plane (19A, 19B, 19C) comprises an adhesion layer (19A) of plastic, and also a laminated material comprising at least one adhesion layer (19B) and a barrier layer (19C), in which the adhesion layer (19A) is applied to the front plane (19) and said laminated material that is part of the rear plane is placed on said adhesion layer (19B) , and wherein said frontal plane (19) and rear plane join together to form a monolithic photoelectrochemical system (1) by melting together the adhesion layer (19A), the frontal plane (19) and the adhesion layer (19B) . 14. The method of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said front plane (19) and rear plane (19A, 19B, 19C) are subjected to pressing together by means of a strong pressing head within an area surrounding the grouping of photoelectrochemical cells (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D). 15. The method of claim 4, characterized in that said area has a minimum distance to the outer edge surrounding said cell cluster (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D) greater than 1 mm. 16. A sealed monolithic photoelectrochemical system comprising a substrate that acts as a support for a pattern, located on said substrate, of a porous structure comprising a photo electrode (6), an insulating layer (7) and a counter electrode (8) , electrolyte absorbed in said substrate to form at least one photoelectrochemical cell (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D) and contacts (11, 12) for said electrodes for interconnection with at least one electrical circuit and the sealing material (10) located on said substrate and covering said porous structure, characterized in that the sealing material (10) comprises an adhesion layer (19A) of plastic that is applied to said substrate and porous structure (19) and a laminated material (19B, 19C ) comprising at least one adhesion layer (19B) and a barrier layer (19C), in which the adhesion layer (19B) is placed on said adhesion layer (19A), and wherein said substrate, structure Porous and sealing material will join together to form a sealed monolithic photoelectrochemical system (1) by melting together the substrate, the adhesion layer (19A) and the adhesion layer (19B). 17. The sealed monolithic photoelectrochemical system of claim 16, characterized in that said barrier layer (19C) is formed by a sheet of metal.